She entered and nodded. Yup, all boxed up. The closet doors stood open, and she went to the one on the left side of the room and closed it. Turning to Joseph’s closet, she frowned.
Empty. Just like her life. Why hadn’t he called?
She wished with all of her heart that he hadn’t come back and made her remember how much she loved him. She wished she could go back in time and say the right things in their damn hotel room. Wished she could make him forget her angry words and kiss him until he threw her on the bed and made love to her. Or she’d let him explain the circumstances behind him and the stripper long ago.
But, really, who wouldn’t have thought he’d cheated when he lay naked in bed with another woman? She’d asked her father if he’d done all the things Joseph had accused him of doing six weeks ago. Turns out, her dad had done even more. He’d gone so far as to threaten Joseph with a drug test—and a sure failure of said test—if he didn’t leave her alone.
Yet, Joseph had kept attempting to get to her—until her father had pulled some strings with his buddies in the US and had him sent to Afghanistan on a covert mission requiring deep undercover activities with no access to phones or Internet. He’d left Joseph to suffer over there until he had use for him in Mexico—protecting her. Ironic that Joseph had been sent away so that he couldn’t see Eva but brought back for the very opposite reason.
She hadn’t spoken to her father since he’d admitted the truth to her. He’d left her a message, letting her know he’d checked into the story about the stripper, and it turned out she was in jail right now for drugging and robbing over twenty unsuspecting men all over the country. Just as Joseph had deduced she’d done to him. So, he had told the truth about that, as well.
But why the hell hadn’t he called now that the truth was out?
She stalked toward the closet door, ready to slam it shut, but a shadow caught her eye. There, in the corner of the closet, a floorboard stuck out of joint. She tilted her head and bent her knees, prodding it slightly. The wood plank lifted, and she hesitated before reaching a hand into the dark space below.
Her fingers closed over a square shape, and she plucked it out. When she saw the small, velvet box that unmistakably held jewelry, she gasped. Had Joseph hidden a present for her long ago and left it behind? In her mind, an image of his guilty face emerged as he hovered in front of the closet, and how he’d shut the door when she’d entered. Had he been checking on his secret hiding place?
Dare she open it? Her fingers itched to do just that…but her conscience screamed not to invade his privacy. She sighed and slipped the box in her pocket before searching for her cell phone—the replacement cell phone Joseph had sent her just as he’d promised.
She dialed her father.
“Hello?” he said, picking up after the first ring. “Are you talking to me again?”
“For now.”
“Eva!” His voice bellowed at her through the phone way too cheerfully. “What a great surprise! Are you finished packing all of your stuff for our move tomorrow?”
“Dad,” Eva moaned. “I’m not deaf, remember? And you know I hired movers to handle all of the hard work.”
“You’re all ready to leave, then?” he barked in her ear.
She flinched and held the phone away from her head. “Yes, like I said.”
“Great! I’m pretty much ready, too.” He cleared his throat and lowered his voice. “Sorry, must have had a frog in my throat. Anyway, what’s up, dear?”
With caution, she returned the phone to her ear. “Do you know how I can contact Joseph? I have something of his, and I’d like to return it before we leave.”
“Joseph?” he yelled.
She frowned and held the cell at a safe distance once more. Why did he continue to shout? “Yes. I know you don’t like him, but I have to get a hold of him. Help me, please?”
“I have his number, but I have to talk to someone first. I’ll give it to you in a few minutes. Love you, bye.”
He hung up on her, and she shook her head in confusion. That had to be the weirdest conversation she’d ever had with her father. And they’d had a lot of odd discussions over the years.
***
Joseph entered Hugo’s study, eyebrow arched in amusement. “I take it your sudden need to speak as if you were deaf was for my benefit?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, son.”
“Yeah, okay. Eva called? How is she?” Joseph had avoided asking this question, but damn it all to hell, he missed her. He’d sworn to her he would leave her alone, promised not to press his unwanted attentions upon her, but he hadn’t expected it to be so damned hard. Maybe it seemed so hard because this time he knew he couldn’t get her back. He’d told her the truth, and she’d still pushed him away.
Now, he had to ask random people how she had been doing. Had to rely on secondhand observations of how well she recovered from the attack. He knew if he dared to approach her, he would grab her and never let go. No matter if she agreed or not. He’d tried to make it through the whole day without approaching Hugo about Eva, and had almost accomplished it. He’d been on his way out the door when he’d heard Hugo on the phone with her.
Unable to stop himself, he’d approached Hugo’s office, needing one last bit of news about Eva before she moved away from him.
“She’s okay….”
Joseph tensed. “What’s wrong? Is she having headaches? I heard headaches after a concussion are fairly common. Maybe she should lie down and rest instead of worrying about moving.” He ran a hand through his hair, pacing. Images of Eva sitting down, rubbing her temples and grimacing in pain, flashed before his eyes. Her nose probably remained black and blue. “She needs to take it easy. Tell her to calm down and rest.”
Hugo laughed, and Joseph scowled at the man’s obvious enjoyment.
“Joseph, perhaps you should tell her yourself.”
“I told you, she wants nothing to do with me. I would think you’d be happy about it.”
“A few months ago, I would have been. However, I’ve changed my mind. It’s obvious to any idiot—which I am not—the two of you are in love. You only have to make her see it.”
Joseph tried to ignore the hope rising within his chest. Could it be possible she believed him? “She still doesn’t trust me. Even after I told her the truth about that night. Did she tell you?”
“Yes, she told me you were innocent.”
“Imagine that,” he drawled, raising an eyebrow.
Hugo ignored Joseph’s sarcasm, shooting him an amused look. “She asked to see you. She says she has something of yours.”
“Of mine?” Joseph racked his brain but could think of nothing he’d forgotten at her place. Had she used the excuse of a forgotten object to get him to go see her? If so, maybe he hadn’t lost everything. Excitement pumped through his veins, and his voice came out rushed. “Oh, okay. Is she home now?”
Hugo nodded and smiled. “Good luck.”
***
Twenty minutes later, Eva sat, scowling at her phone. She’d been waiting for her father to call her back, and each second she held the box, the urge to peek inside grew. If she didn’t see Joseph, and soon, she would cave to the temptation. The small size suggested it held earrings…or a ring.
God, how she longed to go back in time. If only she’d not kicked him out that night and let him explain. If only she’d noticed the stripper stealing her unconscious boyfriend’s belongings, or how sick he’d looked.
Holy shit. Could he have been planning to propose?
Her heart sped up, and she set the box on the coffee table to wipe her clammy hands on her jeans. They’d been happy enough to warrant such an action—until she’d found him in bed with the whore. But, before that, he could have bought the ring and tucked it away. They’d made plans to go out to a “special” dinner before the incident that had ruined their relationship. The memory of their plans had long ago faded in the face of his betrayal—or rather, of what she’d thought
he’d done.
A knock sounded at the door, and she jumped to her feet. Her father had men stationed outside her apartment, so the chances of it being a murderer were slim…but then again, it hadn’t stopped the Cartel before.
Her voice shook as she inquired, “Who is it?”
“It’s Joseph. Can I come in?”
She sucked in a deep breath, and once again wiped her hands on her pants. How were they so darn sticky? “Um, yeah. Hold on.”
Rushing to the door, she smoothed her hair and unlocked the bolt. When she opened the door, she fought the urge to fling herself into his arms, forcing a calm expression to her face, despite her racing heart.
He studied her from head to toe, clearing his throat and shoving his hands into his pockets. After several moments passed, he said, “Are you going to let me in, or what?”
Eva realized she blocked his way and stumbled backward. “Yes, of course. Come in.”
She smiled at the guards and shut the door firmly. After a moment’s hesitation, she locked the deadbolt again for good measure. She faced him and strode to the couch, perching on the edge. Her fingers shook, nervousness threatening to overcome her, so she sat on them. Joseph had made it clear he was done with her. She didn’t need to embarrass herself any further.
“Um, sit.”
He grinned and sat down beside her—far too close. He smelled of aftershave and Old Spice deodorant. And his warmth beckoned to her. She groaned aloud her frustration, shifting on the couch and feeling incredibly turned on. He toyed with a piece of her hair and her scalp tingled, sending shivers down her spine.
“You look gorgeous, even with a broken nose.”
She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, I’m sure I look fabulous.” Avoiding his gaze, she stared down at her lap. “I mean, um, thanks. I’m sure I look horrible, but it’s nice of you to lie.”
He scooted closer. When he tugged on a lock of her hair over her ear, she trembled.
“No, you’re still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. Will ever see.”
With a sigh, he released her hair. He rubbed the back of his neck, and she glanced up in time to see his jaw flex. Could he be nervous, too?
“So, what did I leave here? Your father said you had something of mine?”
“Oh, right.” She cleared her throat and motioned toward the table in front of them.
He glanced where she’d indicated and returned his attention to her, staring at her face a mere second before his gaze shot back to the table. With a muttered curse, he reached out, grabbed the jewelry case, and tucked the box inside his pocket.
“Did you look at it?” he barked, his cheeks red.
She shook her head. “No, of course not. It didn’t seem right.” She blinked back tears and looked out the window. “I just thought you should have it.”
His arm resting against hers tensed, and he shot to his feet. His sudden movement drew her attention.
“Right.” He rubbed his jaw. “Well, I guess that’s it. G-good luck with your move. And with, uh, life.” He rolled his shoulders and looked down at her. Resignation and sadness stared her down and her heart wrenched. “Yeah. Okay, bye.”
Turning away, he strode to the door. Tears slipped over Eva’s cheeks, and she bit her lip. If she wasn’t mistaken, she’d seen his hand tremble. He never showed any signs of weakness.
“Wait!” She rose, taking an awkward step toward him only to stumble. She caught herself on the arm of the couch. “Can I ask you something?”
He stopped, but didn’t face her. “Yes?”
“Was it…is it…a ring?”
“Does it matter?” He pivoted to her, a frown wrinkling his brow. “Either way ends with me leaving and you moving. You made it quite clear what you wanted of me a few days ago.”
“I…I was scared. I didn’t mean—” She flailed her arms, struggling to find the right words.
“What?” His eyes narrowed, and he stalked to her. “Don’t fuck with me. Do you want me to stay or go?”
“Stay!” she cried. “I want you to stay, damn it!”
He swept her into his arms. “Do you believe me now?”
She nodded, tears running down her cheeks. “I-I should have listened to you earlier. I shouldn’t have told you I didn’t want you anymore. I was just…scared.”
He smiled, kissing every inch of her face. “God, I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
He kissed her forehead—a little too close to her nose—and she flinched.
“Ow.”
“Oh. Sorry.” He examined her nose, his eyes darkening. “I wish he was still alive so I could go kill him right now.”
A strange sound bubbled from her throat, half-laugh and half-groan. “Yeah. Me too.”
He lifted her into his arms and carried her into the bedroom. The bed had been disassembled, but the mattress lay on the floor. He laid her gently on it and lowered himself to cover her body. His weight pressing against her made her heart feel whole again. She’d missed him so much, even more so than when she’d kicked him out. Knowing she loved him—and he still loved her—had made their separation unbearable. She’d never let go of him again. Groaning, she wrapped her arms around his neck.
He brought his mouth to hers but hovered a mere breath away. “Are you sure you’re ready? I can wait—”
She grasped his neck and melded her lips to his. His tongue thrust between her lips, and he cradled her head in his hands. She tore free, smiling up into his green eyes. “I love you. There are no doubts.”
Growling, he crushed her lips beneath his, his hands fumbling with the hem of her shirt. He removed his mouth from hers long enough to rip the shirt over her head, and then nibbled on her lower lip before licking the sting away.
“God, I love you,” he whispered hotly in her ear. Removing her bra, he fondled her left breast while his lips closed over her right nipple.
Happiness twined with desire inside of her, making everything in her world shiny and perfect. She groaned and arched her back, tugging at his hair.
He lifted his head, and scowled. “Ow, that hurt.”
She rolled him onto his back, straddling his hips. “Well, I’ll have to make you feel better.”
Smirking, she yanked his shirt over his head and massaged his auburn locks. Closing his eyes, he sighed. When she licked his nipple, he jerked, groaning and threading his fingers through her hair. She treated the other nipple the same while she dragged her nails down his chest. Moving her hands lower, she unbuttoned his waistband, fumbling in her haste to peel his pants off. Once he had nothing but boxers on, she cupped his penis and massaged him until he squirmed beneath her.
“Eva!” he cried out, hands fisting.
She shot him a grin, slinking down his body while making sure to trail her breasts along his chest and down his belly. Releasing his cock from his boxers, she licked the tip, savoring his moan of delight, and closed her lips around his shaft, sucking while massaging his balls. When he lurched off the bed, she held his chest down with her free hand. Strong fingers laced into her hair and tugged. She stroked her tongue in circles around his sensitive tip.
“Fuck,” he mumbled, “I need to be inside of you. Now.” Picking her up, he tossed her onto her back, taking care to be gentle with her even though he looked as if he would explode it he didn’t have her that instant. He practically shredded her jeans in his haste to be inside her.
Once she was naked, he removed his boxers and stood above her. Her breath caught as his eyes took in every inch of her body. She held her arms out and, with a wicked grin, he leapt on her, crushing her lips beneath his and thrusting into her in one deep drive. She whimpered into his mouth, and wrapped her legs around his hips, meeting him thrust for thrust until she tensed and an orgasm exploded through her.
When he left her, pulling from her embrace and away from her body, she cried out in dismay. He hadn’t come. Why would he withdraw from her before he’d climaxed?
Rising up on her elbows, she
realized he wasn’t finished. He lowered his head between her legs, stroking her with his tongue. Pure pleasure made her mewl and dig her nails into the mattress. He gripped her hips and pulled her closer to his mouth, unwilling to let her escape his sweet torture. The pressure built inside her until, with a small scream exploding from her, she burst against his mouth, sagging to the mattress. Wonder washed through her, along with love. She couldn’t imagine life without him by her side. Never again.
Joseph rose above her and brushed her clitoris as he entered her. She dug her heels into the mattress, trembling. With a surprised shout, she climaxed again.
“Jesus, Eva. I’m gonna come,” he moaned, plunging into her a few times before he threw his head back and came inside her.
She groaned, trailing her fingers over his back, enjoying the feel of his weight on top of her. His breath fanned her ear, and she smiled. After a few minutes, he raised himself on one elbow, studying her expression. “You look awfully pleased with yourself.”
She traced a finger along his eyebrow. “I am. I’m beyond happy. I have you back. No one’s shot at me in the last week. Life’s good.”
He slid off her.
“Hey, come back!” she protested.
He shook his head and grabbed his pants, reaching in his pocket. Eva chewed on her lower lip, watching him strut back to her naked. The velvet box perched between the fingers of his hand. His muscles rippled as he lowered to the floor on one knee, and his face held a touch of vulnerability she’d not often seen on him. He always seemed so sure of himself and what he wanted. To see him so nervous made her love him even more.
She gulped in air and held it, scrambling to sit up cross-legged on the bed. Closing his eyes, as if to steady himself, Joseph flipped open the lid of the box. Eva released her breath in a loud whoosh at the sight of the gorgeous ring resting within. Tearing her gaze from the treasure, she witnessed an even more mesmerizing sight—the love and tears in Joseph’s eyes.
“I know I can be hard to handle. Bossy at times. An ass at others. But one thing I’ve always been good at is knowing what I want. And getting it.” He paused and steadied himself, never breaking eye contact with her. “I had everything in the world I could ever want. I didn’t realize how much of that included you until you were gone. I ask you to be my wife, and in return I vow to be forever faithful. I will never leave you, Eva, or break your heart. All I ask is for you to wear my ring and love me in return. Will you be my wife?”
Absolution Page 8
